Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product

Culture producers grow selected L. plantarum strains for use in foods and feeds. They dry the culture to make it easier to store and measure into a recipe. This ingredient is deliberately produced, rather than left over from another industry.^4,5,7

1. 01 // Source Selected strain A producer starts with a particular strain, although the species name on the dog food label does not identify it.
2. 02 // Process Grown in medium The bacteria multiply in a nutrient mixture; the choice of medium affects the resulting preparation.
3. 03 // Process Dried Freeze drying or spray drying removes water, and the drying method affects how many cells survive.
4. 04 // Output Culture powder The dried preparation is measured into pet food; its ingredient name alone does not state a viable dose.

1. 01

   Supplies a microbial culture

   Producers add it as a source of L. plantarum. A live probiotic effect depends on the particular strain and the number of viable cells delivered when the dog eats the food.^1,4,7

2. 02

   Supports digestive claims

   Brands describe this ingredient as helping digestion. Dog trials tested named strains or mixtures at measured doses, which do not show what an unspecified culture does in a particular kibble.^1,2,8

3. 03

   Stores as a powder

   Drying lets a producer ship and measure the culture. Researchers have grown L. plantarum on inexpensive soy processing residue to explore lower production costs at scale.^5,7

How much A puppy trial gave 1 billion live L. plantarum cells daily for 8 weeks; it did not test a kibble inclusion percentage.¹

1. Brands say

   Prevents digestive infections in puppies

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In a 72-puppy study, groups given the named L. plantarum strain had fewer new gastrointestinal episodes late in the trial than controls. That result cannot be assigned to an unidentified strain or dose in kibble.¹

2. Brands say

   Helps dogs recover from diarrhea

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A blinded trial enrolled 66 dogs with diarrhea, of whom 44 completed treatment. Stool scores improved more with a sour milk product containing L. plantarum and 2 other species than with placebo. It did not isolate this ingredient.²

3. Brands say

   Balances the gut bacteria

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   After 8 weeks, puppies given a named L. plantarum strain had higher fecal Lactobacillus counts and lower Enterobacteriaceae counts than controls. Those measured changes do not prove lasting gut health benefits from every product bearing the species name.¹

4. Brands say

   Delivers live probiotics through shelf life

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   One freeze-dried L. plantarum formulation lost 5 to 6 logs of viable cells during 90 days at room temperature. AAFCO calls for a viable cell guarantee when live microbes are claimed; the ingredient name states no delivered count.^4,6